Karpal did play audio clip in Dewan, maintains Ramkarpal
KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has produced proof that his late father, Karpal Singh, had played an audio recording in the Dewan Rakyat before this, after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan said checks of the Hansard showed that this had not taken place.
In a press conference at Parliament today, Ramkarpal played the YouTube video of Dewan Rakyat proceedings on Feb 25. 2009 where his father played an audio recording on alleged corruption.
“When I used the phrase, ‘If I’m not mistaken’, I was giving notice to the Dewan that I might be wrong as far as the date is concerned.
“Yes, I said 2007 and was mistaken. It was actually in 2009. But the fact is that the event happened; there can be no doubt about that.
“I don’t understand what the minister is talking about when he says I’m misleading the Dewan. That allegation is baseless,” he said.
Earlier today, Takiyuddin warned that he would not hesitate to refer Ramkarpal to the Rights and Privileges Committee for allegedly misleading the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday concerning an audio recording purportedly of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Takiyuddin said Ramkarpal’s claim that his late father also played an audio recording on alleged corruption in 2007 was baseless and misleading.
Adding that Ramkarpal should be given the benefit of the doubt, he said the MP had until the end of the day to prove his claim.
When asked if he would be meeting the minister personally to rectify the matter, Ramkarpal said there was no purpose in meeting him.
“He didn’t meet me when he made his statement. He made a statement. So I’m making a statement as well.”
He also said deputy speaker Azalina Othman Said’s reason for stopping him for playing the recording was simply that she was caught by surprise, not because he was misleading the lower house.
“What’s surprising is this minister trained as a lawyer. With respect, for him to make a statement without checking the facts is completely unacceptable.”
Ramkarpal yesterday began playing the recording of a voice purported to be that of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the Dewan Rakyat but was promptly stopped by Azalina.
He initially asked MPs if the person behind an alleged leaked audio recording was Muhyiddin enticing Umno leaders to join his party with promises of positions in the Cabinet and GLCs.
He also asked for updates on the police reports made over the audio, adding that an offence would have been committed if the voice in the audio was indeed that of Muhyiddin.
